"A sharp tongue hides fondness," Lyruk stated. His voice resembled that of someone reciting lines of poetry with no enthusiasm for the art of words. "A sharp blade that never lands whispers truth."
Elavale paused in an attempt to decipher his monotonous words. It was like a riddle, a question with no obvious answer. After giving it twelve seconds of hard thought, the sentences repeating in her head several times, she gave up, shaking her head.
"I have no idea what you're saying."
Lyruk, unperturbed by her lack of understanding, continued walking at the same pace, slowly catching up to her as she stopped and started irregularly, the speed and direction ever changing in her step. With each measured step forward, one hand resting in his pocket, spinning the ring on his finger around in circles out of sight, he didn't bother explaining the thoughts formed by observation alone. Barbed words stung, and yet they were what guarded fragile hearts and emotions, sometimes keeping them entirely hidden from even the one who held them close. As for the blade, if it never truly struck despite the number of attempts, it meant that it never would.
In other words, Lyruk knew their banter was a pretense, a way to keep one another at a distance in order to protect against an inevitable hurt, especially as they maintained loyalty to opposing sides. And Haq? Lyruk knew well that he never once tried his hardest in battling Abana. Rather than testing her or deliberately hiding his ability to feel superior to her, it was rather obvious that he simply never wanted to draw her blood. Perhaps, Lyruk considered thoughtfully, Haq was doing his best to help her grow stronger, bit by bit, with each of their fights.
Either way, whether they knew it themselves, Haq and Abana held each other in high regard. Not once had either of them played dirty to win a match against the other.
It was clear respect for their opponent as well as the fight.
"I'm sure you're right, whatever it is," Elavale continued, easing the silence away. Stopping again, she waited for Lyruk to catch up. "Do you think it's possible?"
"Hm?"
She fell into step with him, tilting her head as she looked up at him.
"To stop them? The God and Goddess."
He took just a few seconds to consider the outcomes.
"We only need to stop one," he replied eventually.
"What?" Elavale paused as he walked steadily ahead.
What he just suggested, only taking out one of them in battle, was already a half-insane idea in itself, let alone doing it while the other was present. She supposed if they managed to join forces it would either quickly come to a conclusion or be drawn out in a long standoff. However, from what she overheard years back, in one of her parents late-night conversations, was that if one had to be destroyed, they both did. Though she wasn't sure which side was the one that never truly attacked the other with any intention for harm, turning on the opposition would surely bring the God and Goddess to the same side, against them.
"But is that even achievable? We pick a side to end their battles?"
"Nothing and no one is without weakness. The problem lies in how well those are protected."
"Oh... I see." Elavale caught up quickly, taking a peek up at his face. Though their heights were not all that different, their posture told another story. With Lyruk standing perfectly upright, Elavale's odd slouches and tilts of her head and upper body when speaking made their one inch separation appear greater. "Do you think your father will help us?"
Lyruk's quiet steps were an answer all their own. Hesitantly, Elavale asked the next most important question, turning to face him as she walked backwards.
"Do you think any of the others will?"
And just as expected, the worst of answers came. Though, it wasn't as though she didn't understand it. After all, she couldn't fault his logic, she'd just hoped he knew something she didn't.
"No. We'll be on our own."
The trio, having made their way to the entrance to the Canyon of Fire, stopped in the greenery, taking in the moment as much as the scenery. As if the planet itself were putting a barrier to warn others, the grass ended in a perfect curved line at the entrance of the canyon. Where the plant life ended, dry sandy dirt began, matching the tan rocky walls the stood high on either side.
"This… is the Canyon of Fire?" Nadia asked, eyes wide taking it all in.
Haq grinned. Though he'd stopped in this very spot a number of times, he'd never once set foot beyond this point.
"Intimidating, right?"
She nodded in response, at a loss for words.
"Here goes nothing."
Haq was the first to step forward, his sandals the first to cross the line. Abana shifted the axe on her shoulder and followed suit, Nadia quickly joining, as if the door could close and separate them somehow.
The two women turned their gazes behind in seeing Haq do so, to that which they'd come from. As if a black fog had descended upon the forest behind them, what looked like thick smoke clouded the visibility of the trees and then continued forward. They watched it curl and move across everything, shrouding each inch in darkness, eliminating sight entirely. It stopped at the edge of the dirt, rising higher than the eye could see into the sky above.
"What's that?"
Haq stepped forward and placed a hand against a solid impassable barrier of dark fog.
"That means there's no turning back from here."
"In order to leave," Abana explained, "we have to move forward. Once you've entered, you must use a different entrance as an exit."
"How many entrances are there?"
"Five," Haq supplied. Pointing to the first fork in the road, he gestured to the right. "Always choose the side that leads you in the direction of your destination. The Valley is this way."
Abana, noticing Nadia's confusion as they started down the path suggested, added something to clear things up. "Think of it as a large circle. All of it is connected, eventually. There's really no right or wrong way to travel." She pointed to the top of the Canyon walls. "The stars guide your direction."
"Ah."
A loud hiss, followed by a series of thuds that shook the ground, called their attention. Standing before them, as if waiting for the arrival of new prey, was a serpent-like creature. With scales of varying light tones of blue to green, sharp fangs and a long thin tongue that emerged between them, it had legs and feet that resembled those of a lizard. The body was as expected, long and rounded at the edges, smooth and straight along the sides. A tall spiny fin ran the length of its back and short tail, resembling that of a fish.
Though such creatures were rarely seen wandering around the planet, it was obvious this one was young, barely an adult. And strange, at least in Nadia's mind, to see it here. Although it had feet, such a creature, known as a Serpiscertis, lived almost exclusively in the oceans.
"Ah," Haq said, letting out a breath that sounded more like relief than discontent, stepped forward, reaching for the small blade tucked at his waist. "Of course, so soon."
Without hesitation, he flipped the blade around in his hand, switching the grip so that the hilt was no longer next to his thumb.
Nadia's gaze tore between the two of them as well as the large creature, flabbergasted at Abana's clear lack of concern for both of the others. In fact, she wasn't even looking toward the impending battle, but rather reaching up to put a gentle hand on Naida's shoulder.
"Do you have any fighting experience?"
"Uh… no?" Her gaze flicked back over to Haq, who cleanly dodged under the first swing of the creature's head and slid to the side before running directly at it. "Um, do we…"
Abana followed her gaze with a slow disinterested turn of her head. Haq slid right under the midsection of the Serpiscertis and stepped out again to sink his dagger into the upper front leg. It roared, throwing its head back, seemingly no longer satisfied with a simple hiss once blood was drawn. With a perfectly timed swing, he yanked the blade out as he set foot atop it, snagging the bone-like structure of the long fin across the top with a bare hand.
"No. He's fine."
He looked over at them, seeing the two of them unmoved, only one of them the image of shocked and concerned. Abana herself was leaning casually against her axe without a care in the world.
"Care to help?" he called out with a shake of his head and a hearty laugh.
"Why? Is it too strong for you?" Abana replied, feigning a frown.
Grinning, he made a slice at the back of the creature's neck, earning himself a bumpy ride, though he didn't look away from them. It stomped around, shaking the ground with tiny tremors.
"You get to set up the campsite, then!"
Hearing those words, her frown became a reality, her brows furrowing as much as her eyes narrowed. Axe abandoned, she took one step forward, hands on hips.
"Excuse me?"
The Serpiscertis whipped it's head around, spotting Haq atop its back, and opened its mouth wide. Slashing the blade against the outer part of a fang as it descended upon his location, Haq successfully moved farther back. He leaned out, extending his arm on the fin as much as possible, just barely peeking around its large head to meet Abana's stern gaze with a delighted expression.
"I'm doing all the work over here! You should contribute!"
Rolling her eyes she settled instead for crossing her arms and tilting her head, clear in disapproval.
"I'd have decimated that thing in ten seconds. You're just slow."
"I don't have an axe, Abana. Try doing this with a knife," he replied, illustrating his difficulties by lifting it up for them both to see. Next to the fangs of the Serpiscertis, it was both shorter and lacking in width.
It retreated, unable to catch Haq atop its back, and turned in a loud circle, aiming for another attempt. He rushed forward and finished what he started.
Abana shrugged, not bothered by either creature or the one thrusting a blade through the shaved scales on the long neck.
"Inadequate equipment. Not my fault."
Having severed the spine of the creature, it fell limply to the ground, no longer able to hold itself up. Haq pushing off of the leg with his own, tugging the blade free as he did so, and tumbled safely out of range as the large body rolled onto its side where he'd been. He strode over and thrust his knife into the eye of the creature, making certain it was dead, a mercy so that it wouldn't live on unable to move.
When he turned to the two women, a sprinkle of blood on his wrist and hand, he grinned.
"I bet, if I find a weapon in here, I'd taken a bigger one down in half the time you claim."
"Oh?" she said as he continued coming ever closer to where the two of them were standing. Something like mischief glittered in his eyes. Abana raised a brow. "Is that a wise bet?"
Neither being one to back down from a competition with one another, Haq merely asked one word, putting their negotiations into action.
"Stakes?"
Abana grinned, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She looked all too satisfied and confident in winning.
"A wish for the winner. Loser must comply without argument."
"Anything?" Haq clarified, lifting a curious brow.
"Anything."
His hand shot out immediately with the confirmation. "You're on."
Abana slapped her hand against his, sealing their deal. As they pulled away, their last two fingers caught together and held on for just a few seconds, like that of a pinky promise.
Nadia, watching the whole exchange, the simple takedown of a creature with just a small dagger, suddenly realized how clueless she'd been. If these people were technically less than that of the God and Goddess...
All she was going to do was hold them back if a fight did break out. Though she didn't expect to become any sort of expert in fighting, nor did she desire such a thing, perhaps knowing a little was better than none.
That way, if she needed to fight to accomplish her goals, she could.
"Can you teach me?"
Both Haq and Abana, with mirrored expressions, turned to her. Wide-eyed and jaws slack, their surprise was palpable.
"What?" Haq managed after a few seconds of complete silence.
Nadia sighed and explained herself.
"As we make our way. Teach me to fight. Can you?"
Dual grins appeared, just the same as the surprise. They both nodded, Abana looking proud of her.
It was almost immediate. As they wandered past the creature and descended farther into the Canyon, the two of them started the lessons as they walked, peppering her with stances and ways to hold weapons as much as the different kinds that existed.
"Have you used any kind of weapon before?"
"No," Nadia told them with a shake of her head. It was an honest reply, one she was worried might throw them off. Alas, no such thing as surprise came across their features, as if they much expected it, though not in a foul way.
"A small weapon might be easiest to learn quickly," Abana suggested, Haq nodding in agreement.
"Here," Haq said, pulling his dagger out and handing it to her, handle first. "Try holding it first."
Nadia reached out a slow hand, grasping the leather grip with a firm hold. For some reason, her other hand itched to reach up and grab on as well.
It was well known that daggers were not usually that of double-handed wielding.
She listened intently to their advice as they walked, mimicking their movements as they advised, grateful despite the itch for a longer handled weapon.